Hummingbird Facts & Activity for Kids

Hummingbird Facts: Georgia is home to 11 hummingbird species during the year: 1. ruby-throated 2. black-chinned 3. rufous 4. calliope 5. magnificent 6. Allen's 7. Anna's 8. broad-billed 9. green violet-ear 10. green-breasted mango 11. broad-tailed

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species of hummingbird known to nest to Georgia. These birds weigh around 3 grams-- as little as a first-class letter. The female builds the walnut-sized nest without any help from her mate, a process that can take up to 12 days. The female then lays two eggs, each about the size of a black-eyed pea. In Georgia, female ruby-throated hummers produce up to two broods per year. Nests are typically built on a small branch that is parallel to or dips downward. The birds sometimes rebuild the nest they used the previous year.

Keep at least one feeder up throughout the year. You cannot keep hummingbirds from migration by leaving feeders up during the fall and winter seasons. Hummingbirds migrate in response to a decline in day length, not food availability. Most of the rare hummingbirds found in Georgia are seen during the winter.

Homemade Hummingbird Feeders: You can use materials from around your home to make a feeder. Here is a list of what you may use: • Small jelly jar • Salt shaker • Wire or coat hanger for hanging • Red pipe cleaners

Homemade Hummingbird Food: • You will need--- 1 part sugar to 4 parts water • Boil the water for 2–3 minutes before adding sugar. • Cool and store the mixture in a refrigerator until you are ready to use it. • There is no need to add red food coloring. Hummingbirds are attracted to the red color but it is not necessary for them to feed on it.

Information taken in part from: GA DNR and morningchores.com

Jennifer Miller, Jeff Davis County Extension Agent, ANR

Hummingbirds of Georgia

Ruby-tthroated Hummingbird Anna's Hummingbird Status in Georgia Status in Georgia Rare in state past October 31. Most wintering birds are Only three records for Georgia. found along the coast. Size: 4" Size: 3 ¾" Identification Identification Adult male's head is a deep rose-red. Color will actually Adult male has a bright red throat (gorget) that appears extend down the side of the neck. Underparts are black in poor light, an iridescent green back, white under- grayish-green. Adult female often displays tiny red feath- parts and grayish-green sides. Adult female has a ers that form a small reddish patch on the throat. metallic green back, white throat and grayish-brown Underparts are grayish-green. sides. Breeding Range Breeding Range Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona Only hummingbird known to breed east of the Mississippi River. Breeds throughout the eastern United States as far Winter Range west as eastern Texas and Oklahoma north to Minnesota. Pacific coast area from Washington to northwest Mexico and Arizona. Winter Range South Florida, southern Mexico to Panama Broad-ttailed Hummingbird Status in Georgia A very rare winter visitor. Black-cchinned Hummingbird Status in Georgia Size: 4" Fewer than five reported in state each winter. Identification Size: 3 ¾" (slightly larger than the ruby-throated Adult male looks much like a ruby-throated male, having hummingbird) a green back, rose-red throat, white underparts and green sides. Adult female has a green back, streaked throat, Identification white underparts and pale brown sides. Adult male appears much like a ruby-throated male. Throat is black with a violet band along the lower edge of Breeding Range the gorget seen only in good light. Adult female appears East-central California and Nevada, north to Montana and much like a ruby-throated female. Wyoming to very western Texas and Mexico.

Breeding Range Winter Range Breeds from southwestern British Columbia southward Central Mexico southward into western Mexico and as far east as Texas. Magnificent Hummingbird Winter Range Status in Georgia Mexico Two birds documented in Georgia, one in summer.

Size: 5 ¼" (Georgia's largest hummingbird)

Identification Adult male is metallic bronze-green, with cinnamon rufous color in tail and purple crown. Adult female is duller with no purplish crown.

Breeding Range Mountainous regions of southern Arizona and south- western New Mexico to Central America

Winter Range Mexico southward Broad-bbilled Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Status in Georgia Status in Georgia One bird has been documented in Georgia. An adult Most common wintering hummingbird. male overwintered in a backyard in Macon during the winter of 2001-2002. Size: 3 ¾" (slightly larger than Ruby-throated Hummingbird) Size: 4" Identification Identification Adult male has a reddish-brown back, rump, tail and Adult male displays brilliant emerald green feathers on his sides with orange-red gorget. Adult female has a green breast, sides, belly and back. His gorget is sapphire blue. back, light brown sides and reddish flecks in throat that The bill is reddish-orange and black near the tip. The form a central reddish spot. Tail has varying amounts of male's tail is deeply forked, dark blue with a grayish brownish color. border. Adult female lacks the sapphire gorget and is green to bronze-green on its underside with a pale throat. Breeding Range The female's bill is predominantly blackish with some Southern Alaska through Washington, Oregon, western orange near its base. Montana and northern Idaho.

Breeding Range Winter Range The Broad-billed Hummingbird is a Mexican bird that Throughout much of Mexico ventures into the United States regularly only in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. It is the most Calliope Hummingbird common hummingbird in the lowlands of northwestern Status in Georgia Mexico. At least one or two birds are reported each winter.

Winter Range Size: 3 ¼" (smallest bird in northern North America) Mexico (several birds have been seen in South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama) Identification The male Calliope is Georgia’s only hummingbird with Allen's Hummingbird rosy purple gorget feathers that form streaks against a Status in Georgia white background. Adult female has a metallic bronze- Less than a dozen records in Georgia. green back; its sides and flanks are cinnamon; the throat is dull, brownish-white with dusky streaks and the breast Size: 3 ¾" (slightly larger than a Ruby-throated is cinnamon-buff. Hummingbird) Breeding Range Identification Mountains of central British Columbia and southwestern Adult male has a green back, orange-red gorget, reddish- Alberta to northern Baha California. brown sides, rump and tail. Adult female cannot be safely separated from the female Rufous Hummingbird in Winter Range the field. Female has reddish-brown color in the tail, Mexico greenish back, streaked throat and reddish-brown flanks. Green Violet-eear Hummingbird Breeding Range This publication was funded Status in Georgia by The Environmental The only verified sighting was in Thomasville, July 2001. Coastal California Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R.N.), friends group for Winter Range GA DNR/WRD’s Nongame Size: 4 ¾” Wildlife & Natural Heritage Section. Mexico www.TERNforwildlife.org Identification More about hummingbirds . . . Both male and female birds are dark in color, have a The vast majority of hummingbird species that occur in moderately down-curved bill, and are grass green above Georgia are only seen in winter. Many are immatures or and below the body. Males have a violet-green central females and many cannot be identified unless captured breast spot and ear patch. and closely examined. Little is known about their move- ments and the habitats they use in Georgia and elsewhere Breeding Range in the southeast. With this in mind, reporting sightings of No breeding records in the United States. Breeds in wintering hummingbirds can be extremely valuable. Mexico south into Peru and Bolivia. Chances are good that new species will be discovered in Georgia. Winter Range Similar to the breeding range. To report winter rare and unusual hummingbird sightings in Georgia, call (478) 994-1438 or (478) 994-2568 Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Nongame Wildlife & Natural Heritage Section, 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, Georgia 31029, www.georgiawildlife.com